The Enlightenment brought many new political ideas that people began to favor and uphold more than their absolute monarchies. In France, things became especially intense for change and revolution when Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were in throne. Both spent large sums of money while the people starved and made they made poor leadership decisions, bringing France to the brink of collapse. This angered the French who had a strong sense of nationalism. It was then in 1792 that the French Revolution began to be formed.
It began with a meeting of the Estates (social classes) in the Estates-General to discuss reform for the suffering poor. After no progress, the poor people in the Third Estate stormed the Bastille for weapons to signify the start of the French Revolution. Thousands were killed by way of the guillotine as a new government was repeatedly trying to be established. As various groups competed for power, Maximilian Robespierre became a popular leader. He was fanatical and extreme and began the Reign of Terror as he sent thousands without cause to the guillotine. The French Revolution and Reign of Terror finally ended when Robespierre was guillotined and Napoleon came to power.
As France searched for a new government, Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup de etat and named himself emperor of France. As emperor he quickly looked to add more to his empire. He attacked and conquered several countries and staged the Continental System on England. When he tried the invasion of Russia, Napoleon was defeated by Wellington's forces in the Peninsular War. After escaping where he was exiled and returned to power, he was again defeated in the Battle of Waterloo.
From all the fallout of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna was held to regain a balance of power in Europe and a redrawing of boundaries.
It began with a meeting of the Estates (social classes) in the Estates-General to discuss reform for the suffering poor. After no progress, the poor people in the Third Estate stormed the Bastille for weapons to signify the start of the French Revolution. Thousands were killed by way of the guillotine as a new government was repeatedly trying to be established. As various groups competed for power, Maximilian Robespierre became a popular leader. He was fanatical and extreme and began the Reign of Terror as he sent thousands without cause to the guillotine. The French Revolution and Reign of Terror finally ended when Robespierre was guillotined and Napoleon came to power.
As France searched for a new government, Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup de etat and named himself emperor of France. As emperor he quickly looked to add more to his empire. He attacked and conquered several countries and staged the Continental System on England. When he tried the invasion of Russia, Napoleon was defeated by Wellington's forces in the Peninsular War. After escaping where he was exiled and returned to power, he was again defeated in the Battle of Waterloo.
From all the fallout of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna was held to regain a balance of power in Europe and a redrawing of boundaries.